Wichita eagle., 1887-05-27
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1ai11 eagle
P0POCATEPETL,S CONE.
MAKING THE ASCENT WITHOUT
AID OF GUIDES OR MULES.

Upon the City of Mexico-A View Of
the Crater-Gathering Sulphur.
About noon 1 reached Amecameca, and
after a good dinner and few glasses Of
pulque vowed that would reach the sum-
INIT of Popocatepetl, and that without guides
or mules if it took whole year to do it. The
resolution having been duly made, 1 laid in
extra supplies Of Undertaking, blankets and
provisions, and then made arrangements to
start early the next morning. The next day
shortly after sunrise was up and ready to
start. The path was, of course, the same
over which l had gone the previous day, but
somehow I managed to wander off on a
branch road, and only discovered my mis-
take when the path came to a sudden end.
A Mexican would consider few oaths very
appropriate on such an occasion, but, being q
good American, l merely turned around and
retraced my steps. The mistake was GER
tainly q serious one, as it took nearly two
hours of fast walking TO reach the right path.
After trudging and walking over twelve
miles Of road and seeing no signs of the ranch,
determined to leave the path, cut across the
spur of the mountain and make the ascent
from the west SIDE instead of taking the long
and tedious path usually followed. About
S O'Clock l came to the line where veg
citation ended, and decided to pass the night
at that place. For hours had been walk
ing through forests of pines, but had at last
reached the limit beyond watch neither plant
nor tree dared 10 go. The mighty peak, COW
cred with the dazzling coat of snow from
the summit to point 900 or 1900 feet be-
low, lay close at hand, while the distant
fields, valleys and hills stretched in ali direc-
tons. The edge Of the forest seemed to be
particularly sheltered from the winds, and
would thus make the best camping place to
be found. Having plenty of time, was not
hurried, and was able to construct substan-
tial hut in which to pass the night. The pine
trees were dry, SO that it was an easy matter
to break off great branches. Thus by dark
the work was finished, and after putting on
all my extra clothing and having a hearty
lunch crawled inside and prepared to pass
the night. Il was a little cold-the thermom-
eter being considerably below the freezing
point-and yet l managed to sleep well and
wake up bright and early the next morning,
prepared to finish the undertaking.
ASCENT TO TILE SNOW LINE.
left the camp and struck across a sloping
ridge composed entirety OF fine volcanic dust
and ashes. Walking was extremely difficult.
flying in all directions, and although the dis
tance was less than 1909 feet, nearly two
hours were consumed in crossing the strip
A steep rocky ravine then followed and led
to the foot OF the glacier. a large stream of
water, coming from the end of the field Of
ice, dashed over precipices in its mad course,
and was finally lost in the distance. The as
cent to the snow line was rapid but very labo-
riOus, and resulted in numerous bruises and
scratches.
By alternate freezing and thawing the
snow on the cone has been turned into clear,
transparent ice, in some places from so to 100
feet thick. The surface, however, is covered
with half frozen snow, partially melted, dur
ing the day time, but solid at night. Numer-
GUS small cTeViceS are on the lower edge, but
none of them large enough to be az all dan
gerous The ascent at first was at an angle
Of twenty degrees, but soon increased to
nearly forty, making it almost impossible to
advance except by crawling on the hands
and knees. The air became so rarefed that
only q few steps could be taken at a time
without painting and fairly choking to death.
After three hours of such climbing l ar
rived suddenly at the crater. Before me lay
an immense chasm nearly half mile in di-
ameter and perhaps LOCO feet deep. The at
moSphere was q trifle misty and hid the more
distant mountains, but almost at my feet Law
the valley of Mexico, Puebla, and its fields,
while far away the faint white outlines of
Mount OriZaba could be seen. The edge of
the crater IS of loose sand, the ice and snow
ending abruptly, being prevented from adj
vancing farther by the heat which rises from
below. The vapors issuing from the various
solfataraS, the dazzling whiteness of the core
and the blue sky above produced a scene of
wonderful beauty.
WHERE SULPHUR Is OBTAINED.
Wishing to learn how the sulphur is OBJ
tanned, walked on the lip of the crater to the
opposite side. and there, by means of a clumsy
hosting machine, descended several hundred
feet to level where q number of IIslians
were at work The air was filled with poison
Gus vapors so dense that it seemed impossible
for human being to remain in tie place
Numerous small holes and crevices could be
seen III the bottom of the abyss, from which
the deadly vapors issued with considerable
force. Around each opening large quantity
of sulphur is deposited each day, and forms
the mine from which the valuable mineral is
obtained. The supply seems to be inexhausti-
bic, for, no matter how much is gathered
during the day, enough viii be deposited the
following night to more than make up for
what has been taken. After being gathered,
the crude sulphur is carried to the top of the
crater and then shot down slide over the ice
for distance Of 2,0O0 5000 feet. y small
sublimating works is situated near the snow
line, and there the raw material IS put into
marketable shape and sent to different parts
Of the country. The poor wretches who work
in the crater stay Up there about two weeks
at a time, and then are sent to a lower alti-
tude, where they remain for perhaps three
weeks.
After being on the summit for an hour, /
began 10 fell n strange, dizzy sensation, and
realized the necessity OF returning at once 70
the valley below. Taking one last look at
crater, and the panorama which was spread
on every side, began the descent. The
glacier, which had been SO hard 10 ascend
proved 10 be a capital sliding place in coming
down. while the loose ashes made the softest
kind of cushion TO run and leap upon. The
path through the forest and across the fields
was as dusty as ever, and il was only after
long and tiresome tramp that l finally ar
rived at Amecameca several hours after sun.
set Thus the trip, although it bad its li.tle
drawbacks, was most successful, and once
more my eScbequer, which was not III the
most flourishing condition, was saved from
ruin.-City Of Mexico Cor. Chicago Times.
The World Moves.
SWELL. well. its astonishing how the young
ones of to-day play their games, said an old